Support for keys



May 1l, 1954 R. G. HOWELL ETAL SUPPORT FOR KEYS Filed Sept. 26, 1950 Patented May l1, 1954 SUPPORT FOR KEYS Richard G. Howell, Birmingham, Ala., and Emerson E. Hawley, Boston, Mass.; said Howell assignor to said Hawley Application September 26, 1950, Serial No. 186,844

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a key case of the type having a row of loosely-mounted hooks for carrying a set of keys, so that any one of the keys may be selected and used without or other suitable material, shown for purposes of illustration as conventional in shape, having complementary back and front portions adapted to be closed by the usual slide fastener means disconnecting it from its hook. 5 I li, or in any other suitable manner. Mounted Many arrangements for this purpose have on the inside of the back i6 is a plate i8, the heretofore been proposed, in an effort to provide plate being secured by means or rivets 20. At a mode of construction that will afford free its top, the plate is shaped in the form of a movement of the key relative to the case, while tube 22 to provide the support for the row of aording a secure connection against loss. Hook 10 key-receiving loops 24. mountings based on ball and socket connections, To support the key loops in non-jamming but link joints and the like theoretically permit relafree-swivelling relation, the tubular support 22 tively unrestricted rotary and swinging moveis provided with pairs of holes 2B, the holes oi ment, but such connection are subject to jameach pair being aligned on an axis substantially ming tendencies that limit the key movement and diametrically of the tube and extending approxioccasionally result in breaking off or pulling mately parallel to the mounting plate I3. The out of a hook, with consequent loss of one or pairs of holes are disposed in closely spaced remore keys. Such arrangements in addition, genlation transversely of the support, so that the erally do not permit the keys conveniently to be hooks or loops 24 overlap with consequent saving placed on or removed from the hooks as the ocof space. casion requires. The loops 24 on which the keys are suspended To overcome the diiiculties inherent in existing are preferably formed of spring wire, bent to arrangements, the present invention has as an provide an elongated, parallel-sided loop with object the provision of a key case having a novel curved ends. A split joint, indicated generally construction and arrangement of key-support- 25 at 28, permits the loops to be opened for the ing means. More specifically, the invention is insertion or removal of a key, or to permit the concerned with a construction which permits to loops themselves readily to be disconnected. a substantial degree, sliding, swinging, and ro- These key-retaining loops and their mode of tary movements of the key-retaining members mounting constitute a particular feature of the without likelihood of jamming, While at the same invention. As distiguished from constructions time providing a rugged and durable connection. employing a ball and socket or equivalent form It is likewise an object of the invention to proof connection for the key loops, the present arvide a construction which permits the keys readily rangement provides certainty of retention as a to be placed on or removed from a hook, cr if result of the closed-loop construction, with the desired, a key and hook removed together. loop passing directly through the permanently In the drawings illustrating the several feaclosed and rigid support. tures of the invention, Fig. 1 is a view in front ele- The certainty of retention of the keys and key vation of my key case, with the case in open loops does not however, diminish or interfere condition to show the key-retaining means; Fig. 2 with the availibility or freedom of action of the is a detail View in side elevation, partly in seckeys. Indeed, the loops and their mounting pertion and taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and mit convenient and free movement in excess of illustrating in part the free movement of the keythat afforded by prior arrangements. This is retaining members; Fig. 3 is a top view of the due to the relatively wide bearing engagement supporting strip; Fig. 4 is a sectional View therebetween the support and the hooks, which preof, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 45 vents the hooks from getting twisted or cocked in are side views of the key-retaining loops, in closed a jamming position. As best illustrated in Figs. and in open positions, respectively, Fig. 6 being 1 and 2, it will be observed that the keys norsomewhat enlarged for clarity; Fig. '7 is a front mally hang downwardly from the bottom of the enlarged View showing the appearance of the loop, and with the loops in lowermost position split joint when the parts are temporarily held relative to the support 22. From this position, a in laterally-displaced position, and Fig. 8 is a key may be selected and brought toaposition outdetail sectional view of the split joint in norwardly of the case in Various ways. mally open position, taken on the line 8 8 of One mode is shown in Fig. 2, wherein the key Fig. 6. and its loop are swung upwardly with the curved The key case comprises a body l2 of leather 56 end of the loop sliding through the tube 22 as a center, thereby bringing the loop to the position shown in dotted outline. In this position, since the loop may swing from one side to the other through substantially 180, ample swing is provided for free utilization of the key in a look.

Alternatively, from depending position a key may be slid upwardly along' the free arm of its loop, after which theloop may be drawn bodily upward throughthe tubular support until it reaches theposition shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. But in either case, there is no possibility of cooking or jamming of the loop in the support, since the relatively wide bearing provided by the spaced walls and pair of holes is the equivalent of a relatively long passage aording effective guidance to the loop to prevent its getting into a locked or binding position. Notwithstanding this relatively long guideway, under all conditions the loop may swivel freely, whether the straight sided portion or the curved end is within the support. It will be noted that the tubular support, with its spaced guiding passages, provides an open intermediate region or clearance into which the curved portion of the hook may swing when necessary.

To provide for convenient insertion and removal of keys, without interfering with the free end-for-end movement of the loops through the support, the split joint 28 is provided in each loop. This joint is made with a combination V- notch and taper, so as to be self-locking in positively aligned condition without projections of any kind.

The joint is preferably located adjacent on one end of a straight side of the loop, with the V-notch 30 disposed inwardly of the short arm. The long arm is formed at its end with a tapering tongue 32 of a shape complementary to the V-notch, with the apex of the V-section directed outwardly. To aid in securing a smooth joint 'when the loop is closed, the tongue preferably terminates with a slight shoulder 34 and the end of the notched arm is correspondingly shaped, thus avoiding the necessity of carrying the section to a sharp point.

The loops are so formedthat the tongue end tends to spring outwardly in aligned relation to the socket or recessed portion. As a result, when the loop is closed, the parts are automatically and securely retained in smoothly aligned position, so that the keys and loops may slide and be securely retained, to all intents and purposes as effectively as if the loops were wholly continuous in structure. On the other hand, the loop readily may be opened to permit removal of a key, or, with equal facility, the loop may be removed from the support if it is desired to keep the key and loop together.

It is thus apparent that we have provided a new and useful key case, wherein the keys are retained with utmost safety, yet with a freedom and ease of utilization unequaled by more complicated structures and arrangements. The embodiment which We have illustrated and described is considered to be the preferred form, but it will be understood that other forms and arrangements are possible and are comprehended by our-invention as dened in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a key case having a container of flexible materialga support, said support comprising a tubular 'member having pairs of aligned apertures irnthe walls of the tube to form elongated guideways, and a plurality of key-retaining loops extending through and slidable within said guideways.

2. Ina key case having a container of iiexible material, a support comprising a tubular member having a flange portion, a plurality of pairs of apertures in the tubular member, the apertures of' each pair being aligned transversely of the-1, tube on an axis substantially parallel to thegplane of the mounting ange to form elongated guideways, and a series of key hooks carried'v by the support and extending through the guideways, said hooks having curved ends and straight, parallel-sided connecting portions, one of said straight portions of each hook having a split-joint.

Refefences cited in the nie of this patent `UNITED STATES PATENTS Number i .i Name Date 505,882" .Manch Oct. 3, 1893 699,523A .Heumader May 6, 1902 1,061,393 MeSSmer May 13, 1913 1,403,987 Largman Jan. 10, 1922 1,404,736 Bowen Jan. 31, 1922 1,526,498 Jung Feb. 17, 1925 1,549,244v Clevenger Aug. ll, 1925 1,691,608 King et al. Nov. 13, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number' Country Date Great Britain Oct. 18, 1917 

